Tourist heading to Puebla in east central Mexico will hear about the region locked in time, a time of strict Catholicism and colonialism. However, you have to search a bit deeper on the tourism websites to dig back to the pre-Hispanic heritage in this region, or just check out on of the seven Puebla festivals, which highlight to national and international tourists the unique cultural heritage of this state from way before the Conquistadors arrived.
Puebla is home to five major indigenous groups and the festivals highlight the importance of their on-going traditions, the most famous being The Festival of Day of the Dead. However, the cultural traditions are also celebrated at other times throughout the year, such as the Festival of Huey Atlixcayotl in Atlixco which gives thanks for the harvest; the Spring Equinox Festival which takes place at various archaeological sites in the state and the Flower Fair in Huauchinango. They are just a few examples of ways in which the people of Puebla have sought to keep their traditional place on the map for tourists. Consequently, they are also preserving these important cultural events for their own people, while generating substantial economic benefit from visitor income. It is rewarding to see that, in a fast changing world, the admiration of the festivals by outsiders has also refuelled local people's pride in their own history, with communities thriving as they come together in preparation for the festivals. The end product is a collection of festivals that celebrate the vast array of cultural diversity in this region, all produced in a way that is authentic and based on a principle of cultural preservation rather than commoditisation.
For more information see the Festivals of Puebla website.
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